The parents of a severely injured 6 week old Wentzville boy make their first court appearance Tuesday. Both are charged with felony child abuse. St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar calls the case "horrific", and the actions of the parents "abhorrent, outrageous behavior".

To keep the baby from crying, Lohmar said 19-year old Robert Brunette shoved his fingers down his son's throat, threw him against a wall, and shoved the baby's face head first into a bed. Lohmar said the mother, 20-year old Megan Hendricks watched the abuse of her son but did nothing to stop it.

"There were numerous evidences of broken bones," said Lohmar. There were several bones broken in the past that had calcification that indicates the healing had already begun. That's an old injury. There were other internal bleeding injuries, which it was obvious there were some internal organs affected. The child was non-responsive when he arrived at the hospital."

Lohmar said hospital personnel contacted authorities after examining the child. The prosecuting attorney said Brunette and Hendricks could each face a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted. The child is hospitalized in critical but stable condition and Lohmar if the child survives, his quality of life is expected to be "minimal."